abaya

American  

[uh-bey-yuh] / əˈbeɪ yə /

noun

1. a coarse, felted fabric woven of camel's or goat's hair.

2. a loose, sleeveless outer garment made of this fabric or of silk, worn by Arabs.

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abaya British  

/ əˈbaɪə /

noun

1. a long black long-sleeved robe worn by Muslim women in Arabic-speaking countries, often with a headscarf or veil

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Etymology

Origin of abaya

First recorded in 1805–15; from Arabic ʿabā'(ah)

Example Sentences

In a grid of thickly populated streets, women wear abayas and hijabs and tend to stay inside the house.

From Seattle Times

She appeared on the program wearing a black abaya — or robelike dress — a dark green scarf and a black face mask that covered all but her green eyes.

From New York Times

“We want to tell people about Islam. We feel pride in our identity,” Ishfaq said, before telling Garcia to keep the abaya as a parting gift.

From Seattle Times

Around 9 p.m., the guests layered abayas over their jeans and silk blouses, clasped their Hermes purses and headed for the gate.

From New York Times

Paths to the stadiums filled with Saudi green, including women in black abayas carrying the green national flags.

From Washington Post